Religion in Public Schools Hurts Religion (and Schools)

Last updated on: April 16, 2025 at 11:22 am By Barbara O'Brien

Religion in public schools has been a hot topic in the U.S. for decades. It might surprise you to learn that many of the lawsuits challenging religion in American public schools have been filed by religious people. Yes, there are religious people who want less religion in public schools, not more. If you assumed otherwise, please keep reading. Today, school districts throughout the U.S. are doubling down on introducing religion into public schools. For example, last year the Texas State... Read more

Myanmar Earthquake: Mosques and Temples Destroyed

Last updated on: April 1, 2025 at 3:46 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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On March 28 an earthquake struck central Myanmar and was felt in several Asian countries. It destroyed many religious and historic sites, according to news reports. Since Myanmar is home to many revered Buddhist temples and shrines, I’ve been trying to determine which have been damaged or destroyed. Information has been sketchy, however. As I write this the reported death toll is in the thousands and keeps going up. It may be a few days before there is a final... Read more

Mahabodhi Temple Protests: The Fight for a Sacred Site

Last updated on: March 27, 2025 at 12:57 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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Mahabodhi Temple — one of the world’s most sacred places — is now the site of a growing protest movement. Mahabodhi Temple is believed to mark the place where, about 26 centuries ago, the Buddha sat in meditation and realized enlightenment. Today the temple is claimed by both Buddhists and Hindus. Since 1949 the temple has been administered by a joint committee of Buddhists and Hindus, but this arrangement seems now to be entirely breaking down. The protests have not... Read more

When the Dalai Lama Escaped Tibet

Last updated on: March 30, 2025 at 4:40 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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The Dalai Lama escaped Tibet in March 1959, 66 years ago this month. March 1959 was a pivotal time in Tibetan history. At the beginning of the month the young Dalai Lama was emersed in studies for his final exams in Buddhist teachings. As far as anyone can tell, on March 1 he was giving no thought to leaving Tibet. But on March 31, he crossed the border into India, seeking refuge. This began his long exile from Tibet, which... Read more

How “Christian” Were the Nazis?

Last updated on: March 10, 2025 at 3:52 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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How Christian were the Nazis? Not as much as many assume. The relationship between Christianity and the Nazi Party of Germany’s Third Reich was massively complicated and increasingly adversarial. Today, that relationship is often mischaracterized. Here I hope to provide a very brief, general, and simplified overview to a very complex bit of history. The Third Reich, of course, was the government of Germany led by Adolph Hitler and his Nazi Party from 1933 to 1945. Going by what I... Read more

Madison, Bush, Trump and Religious Freedom

Last updated on: February 12, 2025 at 8:00 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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Most Americans might agree that religious freedom is a cornerstone of American liberty. Yet we seem to be confused about what “religious freedom” means. For example, President Donald Trump recently announced the creation of a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias. “My Administration will not tolerate anti-Christian weaponization of government or unlawful conduct targeting Christians,” Trump said in the announcement. “The law protects the freedom of Americans and groups of Americans to practice their faith in peace, and my Administration... Read more

Padmasambhava, Tibetan Buddhism, and the Mists of Myth

Last updated on: January 14, 2025 at 10:26 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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Padmasambhava was probably a real person. I understand this is according to most academic scholars who focus on Tibet, which may not be a large group. Real or not, Padmasambhava is one of the most venerated figures in all of Tibetan Buddhist history. I think it could be said that the life and legends of Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, are foundational to Tibetan Buddhism. They also stand as an illustration of the problem of sorting myths from history... Read more

What You May Not Know About U.S. Presidential Funerals

Last updated on: January 14, 2025 at 9:33 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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According to the White House Historical Association, one of the first things asked of new U.S. presidents is to provide directions for their funerals. “Traditionally five days in length, U.S. presidential state funerals are meticulously choreographed,’ says the Association. “Coordination for the events is conducted by the army’s Military District of Washington and begins early in each presidential term, when a new president is asked to attend to the strange task of imagining his own funeral service. It is a... Read more

The Progressive Evangelicalism of Jimmy Carter

Last updated on: January 14, 2025 at 9:34 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, was a progressive evangelical. He also was the most openly religious president in modern U.S. history. And if you find the term “progressive evangelical” confusing, do keep reading. Carter was president of the United States from 1977 to 1981, and probably a lot of you are too young to remember those years. You may know of Carter’s post-presidency work with with Habitat for Humanity, an... Read more

How Christmas Became a Family Holiday

Last updated on: December 22, 2024 at 6:17 pm By Barbara O'Brien

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Today, Christmas is a family holiday. It didn’t used to be. Through much of the history of Christianity, Christmas involved a raucous, multi-day festival of adult entertainment — drinking, dancing, gambling, indulgences and debauchery. The ribaldry got so out of hand that in the 17th century public observance of Christmas was banned in some places, notably England and its colony Massachusetts. (See “When Christmas Was Banned in Boston.”) Today Christmas is the most wholesome of family holidays. The cultural expressions... Read more